Hi my friends,

One practice I have found that helps me maintain peace of mind and a sense of calm is to meditate every morning.

You can meditate at any time of the day or night, of course, but research has found the best time to meditate is first thing in the morning. The benefits of meditation are enhanced when your mind is free and clear before stresses and tension creep in later in the day.

Below is graphic that lists some of the many benefits of meditation and  can learn more about the important benefits in this healthline.com article

So how does meditation actually work?  According to Lee Nichole Marett at the Little Coffee Fox blog, here are the details:

The act of meditating causes the pituitary gland in your brain to secrete endorphins. We know about endorphins. They make us feel good, emotionally and physically. Meditation also enhances activity in the area of your brain that’s associated with positive emotions and experiences. Some studies suggest that meditation helps combat depression and anxiety, while others say that regular meditation may improve pain tolerance.

If you’ve never tried meditation, you can lean more about how to begin in this great article in the New York Times.  And in the meantime, here’s a very simple beginner meditation to try.

Get comfortable in a favorite spot, in a sitting position, dim the light or use natural sunlight….then proceed.

Drink Warm Lemon Water
Place Right Ankle over Left
Take several deep relaxing breaths
Slowing and thoughtfully repeat these phrases…